Bearing arrangement for warp beams in weaving machines



Nov. 17, 1964 E. PFARRWALLER 3,157,207

BEARING ARRANGEMENT FOR WARP BEAMS IN WEAVING MACHINES Filed Dec. 14. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 f aw/1v PFAPIPWALLEE.

Nov. 17, 1964 E. PFARRWALLER 3,157,207

BEARING ARRANGEMENT FOR WARP BEAMS IN WEAVING MACHINES Filed Dec. 14. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 few/1v PFAEQWALLE/E.

Nov. 17, 1964 E. PFARRWALLER 3,157,207

BEARING ARRANGEMENT FOR WARP BEAMS IN WEAVINC MACHINES Filed Dec. 14. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jnvenfor: [PW/N PFHPPW/ILLEE.

Nov. 17, 1964 E. PFARRWALLER 3,157,207

BEARING ARRANGEMENT FOR WARP BEAMS IN WEAVING MACHINES Filed Dec. 14. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fly. 4

f 31s": Q -36 Jnvenfor:

EA? WIN PFHEPWHLLEE.

United States Patent 3,157,207 BEARING ARRANGEMENT FOR WARP BEAMS IN WEAVING MACHINES.

Erwin Pfarrwaller, Winterthur, Switzerland, assignor to Sulzer Freres, S.A., Winterthur, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Filed Dec. 14, 1961, Ser. No. l59,224 Claims priority, applieation Switzerland Dec. 21, 1960 6 Claims. (Cl. 139-97) The invention relates to a bearing arrangement for a warp beam of a weaving machine which beam has at least two coaxial parts, an outer bearing being provided at each end of the warp beam and an intermediate bearing being provided at the adjacent inner ends of the warp beam parts.

In the arrangement according to the invention the diameter of the running surface of at least the outer bearing which is on the side of the weaving machine where the weft thread inserting mechanism is located, is at least equal to the outer diameter of the tube forming the warp beam so that the latter can be pushed through the stationary outer bearing.

A preferred embodiment according to the invention includes a bearing element connected to each of the inner ends of two warp beam parts which ends face one another, the outer diameters of these elements corresponding to the diameter of the bearing surface of the outer warp beam bearing which is at the side of the weaving machine where the Weft thread inserting mechanism is located. This arrangement facilitates rolling of the warp beam parts into their bearings, for example, on rails connected to the frame of the weaving machine. Since the diameters of the outer and intermediate bearings of the warp beam are equal, the cost of manufacture of the bearings is reduced and less bearings need be kept as spare parts. The diameter of the running surfaces of all bearings is great which is of particular advantage with respect to the intermediate bearing because this hearing must support twice as much weight as an outer bearing; the running surface of the intermediate bearing, however, must be narrow to reduce the gap between two adjacent warps. Both problems are easily solved with a bearing of large diameter wherein the specific bearing pressure 'is relatively small.

In an embodiment of the invention the bearing elements connected to the adjacent inner ends of the warp beam parts are in the form of rings mounted on gudgeons extending from the adjacent ends of the warp beam parts, the diameters of the gudgeons being smaller than the diameter of the warp beam tube. Each gudgeon also supports a flange of the warp beam. This structure facilitates changeover from a small diameter intermediate bearing to a large diameter intermediate bearing in looms having warp beams with gudgeons whose diameter is smaller than that of the warp beam tube and facilitates making the diameter of the running surface of the interthe inner warp beam flange being alsoplaced on the warp beam tube and axially abutting against the respective bearing element.

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In another embodiment of the invention the bearing element resting in the intermediate bearing is not annular but is in the form of a disc rigidly connected to the end face of the warp beam tube. The inner warp beam flange axially abuts against said disc and the axial pressure of the warp is absorbed by the disc and not by screws holding the flange to the disc.

In a particularly simple embodiment of the invention the running surfaces of the outer and inner bearings are substantially equal to the outside diameter of the warp beam tubes and the latter rotate directly on said running surfaces. No shaft supporting the warp beam tube or flanges, pins, gudgeons or the like are needed for supporting the warp beam in its bearings.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, and additional objects and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of embodiments thereof when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic rear elevation of a weaving machine including the bearing arrangement according to the invention for the warp beam; parts of the weaving machine suchas heald frames, reed, etc., which are not related to the present invention are not shown.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the right part of the warp beam and warp beam bearings shown in smaller scale in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View of a modified warp beam and bearing arrangement.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of another modification of an intermediate bearing arrangement.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a further modification of an intermediate warp beam bearing arrangement according to the invention.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawing, numeral 1 designates a warp beam assembly. The warp beam is supported by two equally designed outer bearings 2 and 3 which are located outside of tubes 7 and 8 forming part of the warp beam. The bearings are supported in side walls 4 and 5 of the frame of a weaving machine. The side wall 4 supports a weft thread inserting mechanism 20 which is only schematically shown and wherefrom gripper shuttles are picked in quick succession through a shed formed by warp threads.

The warpbeam 1 includes two shafts 6 and N which may have a circular or a quadratic cross sect on, and two warp beam tubes 7 and 8 mounted on the shafts 6 and 10, respectively. To each of the tubes '-7 and 8 two flanges 9, II and 12, 13, respectively, are mounted. Each of the ends of the tubes 7- and 8 which face the outer bearings is provided with a hub portion 29 which is made fast on the respective shaft 6 and It by means of a screw 31.

Spur gear wheels 14 and 15 are mounted on the shafts 6 and 10, respectively. The teeth of the wheels 14 and 15 mesh with teeth of intermediate gears 51 and 52, respectively, whose teeth mesh, with the teeth of gears 55 and 56, respectively, mounted on shafts 53 and 54, re-

spectively. The shafts 53 and 54 are driven by a gear 58 through a differential gear 57. Because of the provision of the gears 51 and 52 between the gears 14, 15 and 55, 56 the shafts 53 and 54 can be placed so high that there is enough room for warp beams having a large diam-- eter, for example, 800 mmor more. The size of the difierential gear 57 shown in FIG. 1 is exaggerated; actual- 13, the gear does not extend into the space between the flanges or discs 12 and 13. The mechanism driving the gear-58, i.e. the warp let-off mechanism, does not form part of the present invention and is not shown.

The warp'beam lis also supported by a central bearing 16 for which a special support, not shown, may be provided. Only a few threads of the warp released from the warp beam are shown in FIG. 1.

The tube 7 (FIG. 2) of the warp beam extends through the hub id of the gear 1 into a bearing ring 22 which rotates with the warp beam 1. The element 22 is connected to the gear wheel 14 by screws 23 of which only one is visible in FIG. 2. The annular element 22 has a running surface 37 which rests on and runs in a stationary bearing part 24 mounted on the frame or casing of the Weaving machine and having the diameter M. The bear ing 2 preferably has an upper part hinged to the part 24, affording opening of the bearing and removal and insertion of the warp beam.

A split sleeve 27 is made fast on the tube 7 by means of screws 26 which are about tangential of the tube 7. The sleeve 27 is connected by means of screws 28 to the gear wheel 14. As seen in FIG. 2 the inner diameter D of the bearing element 22 and the inner diameter C of the hub of the wheel 14 are somewhat greater than the outer diameter A of the warp beam tube 7. This permits placement of the end of the warp beam tube 7 into the space 41 inside the element 22. The diameters C and D are exaggerated in FIG. 2. The right edge 40 of the warp is always closely adjacent to the shuttle picking mechanism 20, as seen in FIG. 1.

If the warp beam is used for a warp of small width, the right end of the warp beam tube can be pushed into the gear wheel 14 and into the bearing element 22. If a warp beam is used whose tubes 7 and 8 are longer than the distance between the bearings 2 and 3, the warp beam must also extend into the annular bearing elements. In other words, if a warp beam is used which was made for a weaving machine with a greater distance between the side walls and a greater weaving width, for example, if a warp beam which was made for a weaving machine of 130" width is used on a weaving machine whose width is only 110", the tube of the warp beam extends into one or both bearings 2 and 3.

If the warp beam tube 7 cannot be moved into the bearing on the side of the loom where the weft thread inserting mechanism is located, for example because of a very wide warp, a flange may be mounted on the shaft 6, the periphery of the flange being connected to the hearing element 22. In this case the shaft 6 is supported by the bearing 2. A similar arrangement may be made for the outer bearing of the shaft 10 whereby a flange connected to the shaft 10 and to the bearing element 22 is supported by the bearing 3.

The adjacent ends of the warp beam parts 7 and 8 are provided with gudgeons 34 (FIG. -2). The diameter B of the gudgeons 34 is considerably smaller than the outside diameter A of the tube 7. A warp beam flange 11 and a bearing ring 35 are mounted on each gudgeon 34. The diameter F of the running surface 36 of the bearing 16 and the outside diameter of the bearing element 35 are equal to the diameter M of at least one of the outside bearings 2 and 3 of the warp beam. With this arrangement warp beam parts 7 and 8 which were originally constructed for a much smaller intermediate bearing can be made so as to be supported by an intermediate bearing of larger diameter. The intermediate bearing 16 as the outer bearings 2 and 3 may be made of several parts so that they can be opened for receiving and removing the warp beam. It is of advantage to construct all bearings 2, 3 and 16 in the same manner.

When mounting the warp beam part 7 it is rolled on the bearing elements 22 and 35 on guide rails, which may be mounted to the frame of the weaving machine, until the bearing elements 22 and 35 are received in the bearing a parts 24 and 16, respectively. The bearing ring 35 is provided with an annular shoulder 38 abutting against a flat guide element 46 which is connected by screws 74 to the intermediate bearing part 16. The gudgeon 34 is provided with a circumferential groove 47 cooperating with a set screw, not shown, for defining the axial position of the element 35 on the gudgeon 34.

In the modification shown in FIG. 3 the diameter of the bearing surface of the bearing 2 is the same as the outside diameter of the tube 7 and the latter rotates directly on the bearing surface. An annular bearing element 35' is mounted on the gudgeon 34 at the left end of the warp beam part 7. The diameter F of the running surface 36 of the annular bearing element 35 is equal to the diameter A of the warp beam tube 7 and to the diameter M of the running surface of the outer hearing 2. A warp beam flange 11 is mounted on the gudgeon 34 between the element 35 and the tube 7. The elements 35 in FIG. 2 and 35' in FIG. 3 may be made integral with the flange 11. I

If the warp beam tube is directly supported by the bearing 2 a shaft 6 and a hub 29 with a screw 31 is not necessary and may be omitted. That is the reason why parts 6, 29 and 31' are shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3. The left end of the warp beam tube may be directly supported by the bearing 16 in which case the flange 11 would be mounted on the circumference of the tube 7. If both ends of the tube 7 are directly supported by the bearings 16 and 24, the shaft 6 can be omitted.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4 an annular bearing element 71 is mounted on the circumference of the tube 7 and welded thereto by a weld 75. The warp beam flange 11 abuts against the element 71 and is held thereto by screws 31. The axial force of the warp pressing in the direction of the arrow 76 against the flange 11 and the latter against the element 71 is absorbed by the latter and not by the screws 31. The shaft 6 has been shown as of rectangular cross section in the example shown in FIG. 4.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 the bearing element is not annular but is in the form of a disc 72 having the diameter F of the running surface 36 of the bearing 16. The disc 72 is welded to the left end face 73 of the tube 7 by a weld 77. The warp beam flange 11 is beveled at 78 to accommodate the weld 77 and is connected to the disc 72 by screws 31. The axial pressure of the warp acting in the direction of the arrow 76 on the flange 11 is transmitted to and reacted by the disc 72. The screws 31 merely serve to hold the flange 11 at the left end of the tube 7 to the disc 72. The shaft 6 has a rectangular cross section and is held to the inside of the tube 7 by a flange 70.

In the modifications shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 the flange 11 may be made integral with the bearing element '71 and 72, respectively. In this case the weld 75 shown in FIG. 4 would be either on the left or right end of the hub portion formed by the flange 11 and the element 71. In FIG. 5 the weld 77 would be at the right side of the flange 11. If desired, the disc 72 in FIG. 5 and the element 71 in FIG. 4' may be connected to a flange element 79 which is inside the tube 7.

I claim:

1. Bearing arrangement for a warp beam in a weaving machine, the warp beam having at least two coaxial parts having adjacent ends, each part including a warp beam tube, and the weaving machine including a weft thread inserting mechanism placed on one side of the machine comprising two outer bearings for rotatably supporting the outer ends of the rotating warp beam, at least one intermediate bearing for the adjacent ends of the warp beam parts, the diameter of the running surface of at least the outer hearing which is located at the side of the weaving machine where the picking mechanism is located being at least equal to the diameter of the warp beam tube, affording pushing of the warp beam tube through said outer bearing, and a bearing element connected to each of the adjacent ends of the warp beam parts and adapted to rolate in said intermediate bearing, said bearing elements and said intermediate bearing surfaces of a diameter equal to the diameter of the running surface of said outer hearing which is located at the side of the weaving machine where the picking mechanism is located.

2. Bearing arrangement as defined in claim 1 including a gudgeon at each of the adjacent ends of said warp beam parts and having a diameter smaller than that of the warp beam tube, a warp beam flange mounted on each of said gudgeons, said bearing elements being in the form of rings, one of said rings being mounted on each of said gudgeons.

3. Bearing arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said bearing elements are in the form of rings concentrically surrounding and rigidly connected to said warp beam tubes, and a warp beam flange is mounted on each of said tubes and axially abuts against the respective bearing element.

4. Bearing arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said bearing elements are in the form of discs coaxially connected to the warp beam tubes, and a warp beam flange is mounted on each of said tubes and axially abuts against the respective bearing elements.

5. A bearing arrangement for a warp beam of a weaving machine, the Warp beam having at least two coaxial parts having axially opposite ends, each part including a warp beam tube, comprising:

two outer bearings for rotatably supporting the outer ends of the warp beam, at least one intermediate bearing for the opposite ends of said warp beam parts, i

the diameter of the running surface of at least one of said outer bearings being at least equal to the diameter of the warp beam tube, and

bearing means at each of the opposite ends of said warp beam parts and rotating in said intermediate bearing,

said bearing means and said intermediate bearing having bearing surfaces of a diameter equal to the diameter of the running surface of said outer bearing whose diameter is at least equal to the diameter of the warp beam tube.

6. A warp beam for a weaving machine, comprising:

at least two coaxial parts having axially opposite ends,

each of said parts including a warp beam tube,

bearing means at each end of each of said warp beam tubes and rotatable with the respective warp beam tube,

at least the bearing means at the end of a Warp beam tube which end is at one of the outer ends of the warp beam having a running surface whose diameter is at least as great as that of the warp beam tubes,

said bearing means at the ends of said warp beam tubes at the axially opposite ends of said parts having running surfaces Whose diameter is equal to the diameter of the running surface of said bearing means at one of the outer ends of the wrap beam, and

a stationary bearing for each of said bearing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,532,600 Mossberg Apr. 7, 1925 1,817,984 Davis Aug. 4, 1931 2,269,867 Sirmay Jan. 13, 1942 2,447,227 Bergstrom Aug. 17, 1948 2,623,709 Sorton Dec. 30, 1952 2,651,475 Stanworth Sept. 8, 1953 2,798,513 Pfarrwaller July 9, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,168,759 France Sept. 1, 1958 755,372 Great Britain Aug. 22, 1956 

1. BEARING ARRANGEMENT FOR A WARP BEAM IN A WEAVING MACHINE, THE WARP BEAM HAVING AT LEAST TWO COAXIAL PARTS HAVING ADJACENT ENDS, EACH PART INCLUDING A WARP BEAM TUBE, AND THE WEAVING MACHINE INCLUDING A WEFT THREAD INSERTING MECHANISM PLACED ON ONE SIDE OF THE MACHINE, COMPRISING TWO OUTER BEARINGS FOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING THE OUTER ENDS OF THE ROTATING WARP BEAM, AT LEAST ONE INTERMEDIATE BEARING FOR THE ADJACENT ENDS OF THE WARP BEAM PARTS, THE DIAMETER OF THE RUNNING SURFACE OF AT LEAST THE OUTER BEARING WHICH IS LOCATED AT THE SIDE OF THE WEAVING MACHINE WHERE THE PICKING MECHANISM IS LOCATED BEING AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE DIAMETER OF THE WARP BEAM TUBE, AFFORDING PUSHING OF THE WARP BEAM TUBE THROUGH SAID OUTER BEARING, AND A BEARING ELEMENT CONNECTED TO EACH OF THE ADJACENT ENDS OF THE WARP BEAM PARTS AND ADAPTED TO ROTATE IN SAID INTERMEDIATE BEARING, SAID BEARING ELEMENTS AND SAID INTERMEDIATE BEARING SURFACES OF A DIAMETER EQUAL TO THE DIAMETER OF THE RUNNING SURFACE OF SAID OUTER BEARING WHICH IS LOCATED AT THE SIDE OF THE WEAVING MACHINE WHERE THE PICKING MECHANISM IS LOCATED. 